Published in Wild Fibers.  Fall 2005

Capturing the colors of Nature by Tracy Lee Murphy

        Spectacular sunsets over the islands, brilliant streaks of wind and waves riding the Atlantic, and

    vast fields of lupines in bloom are some of the reasons people live in Maine. Knitters, like most fiber artists,

    seem to dream in the colors that surround them. The diversity of their palette is frequently a reflection of the

    find the perfect colors at your local yarn store. Sometimes you just yearn to create a palette of your very own.

    Elaine Eskesen, whose ability to capture the colors of nature were spotlighted in Knitter's Stash, has just

    finished her first book focusing on both the art and technique of dyeing yarn and how to knit with it.

    Dyeing to Knit: How to Use - and Create Your Own Beautiful-Hand-dyed Yarns is a wonderful guide

    for anyone interested in learning how to create magnificent colors.

    "Gather your friends together and give this a try, "Elaine says, referring to techniques for dyeing commercial

yarn including painting, textural, space dyeing and a variety of experimental methods. Her approach to

dyeing yarn encourages first-time dyers to jump right in, along with offering plenty of new ideas for the

experienced dyer as well.

    Elaine owns Pine Tree Yarns in Damariscotta, Maine. Tucked behind a maze of rooms filled with her

hand-dyed yarns for sale is Elaine's studio. Her customers often ask: "How do I do color?" and so she

gives them a peek into her color kitchen. Her book, however, gives us a bigger peek along with

well-written instructions on color theory and design.

    Full of bold, beautiful photographs Elaine worked closely with her daughter, Emily Davey, who is a model

for many of the finished items and also fine-tuned the book's prose. Elaine also counts her close circle

of knitters, prominently pictured in the front of the book, as part of her inspiration.

    There are many small projects in the book, from mittens to scarves to hats, but there also plenty of larger

projects like vests and sweaters. In order to dye enough for one of these larger projects, Elaine shares

her space dyeing method. A dye pot, dyes, a strong dowel and two pounds of yarn are all you need to

make a unique, multi-colored sweater - just add knitting needles!

    The section on textural dyeing calls for the knitter to gather all the oddball yarn from their knitting

stash (from cotton to mohair to wool to novelty yarn) and put it all in one pot to overdye it. Each type

of fiber will take the dye in different ways - cotton perhaps none; wools, mohair and silk at different

depths, and man-made fibers are always a surprise. Then take all the wonderful shades in the

over-dyed color and knit a sweater from cuff-to-cuff, or a vest, incorporating even more texture into

the finished garment.

       Most of the projects are easily adapted for hand spinners who undoubtedly have a variety of leftover

    skeins in colors and sizes. The book includes ideas for wedding hand-dyed and commercially dyed

    yarns; stretching the budget and getting you knitting quickly.

        Dyeing to Knit is a mix and match book, inviting the dyer to choose a particular dyeing method and

    learning how to pair the yarn with a pattern. Perhaps you'd like to try dyeing with the "polka dots" method

    and knitting the textured scarf, or tye-dyeing three skeins to make a child's pullover? Most knitters will

    quickly be inspired to think of yarns they'd like to dye and mix and match their own.

        After writing each chapter on a yellow pad, to taking many of the photographs, Elaine is now

    preparing for more fiber books. She already has plans for one filled with patterns using silk, along

    with a "uniquely inspired" knitting book that uses fine works of art as a jumping off point for dyeing,

    designing and knitting.

        Dyeing to Knit provides useful and fun ideas for both dyeing and knitting. "Everyone has the ability

    to do color," according to Elaine Eskesen. You are set for success with her book in your hands.

       Dyeing to Knit, Hardcover. $25.95.  Published by Down East Enterprises. Order: 

    www.pinetreeyarns.com   or  check with your local knitting shop for availability.

    Tracy Lee Murphy escaped from California and the corporate world to Maine where she spins, dyes,

    knits, and herds three sons and 33 chickens around. She teaches spinning and dye­ing classes

    and coordinates her local fiber group, the Midcoast Spinners. You can contact her at

    tracy@midcoastspinners.com.